Biography of George L. GustinMarion County, IA Biographies

GEORGE L. GUSTIN.
Since March, 1910, George L. Gustin has resided in Knoxville, having retired from the active work of the farm.
He was born at McArthur, Vinton county, Ohio, July 2, 1846, a son of Robert and Susanna (Speed) Gustin. The father
came to this county on the 5th of April, 1847, located upon a claim in Union township, three miles from Red Rock
village, entering a quarter section of land, and built the first hewn log house in that township. His wife and
two children joined him in this county, which remained the family home thereafter. Mr. Gustin improved his first
claim and subsequently traded it for another but resided in Union township until the spring of 1869. In that year
he removed to Franklin township and purchased a farm, upon which he lived until his death, which occurred in 1873,
when he was fifty three years of age. He was a typical pioneer and aided much in the early development of the county.
His parents were Mr. and Mrs. George Gustin, the former of whom died in early manhood, but the latter lived to
a ripe old age. Robert Gustin was born in Athens county, Ohio, as was his wife, who bore the maiden name of Susanna
Speed and was the daughter of George and Mercy C. Speed, the former of whom spent the last years of his life in
Marion county and here passed away, while the latter died in Ohio. A number of representatives of both the Gustin
and Speed families have lived in this county and the two names are held in high respect here.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Gustin were at first members of the United Brethren church but later joined the Methodist Episcopal
church. She died in November, 1911, in this county, when almost ninety years of age. To their union were born three
children. James W., whose birth occurred July 6, 1842, and who died in Missouri in 1873, was a farmer for a time
but subsequently engaged in the shoe business in the Iron state. He left a widow and several children, all of whom
are nosy deceased but a son, who resides in Canada. The subject of this review is the next in order of birth. Mrs.
Mercy Morgan, whose husband was for twenty years chief of the fire department of Portland, Oregon, passed away
in that city in 1904, leaving three daughters.

George L. Gustin was brought to this county when an infant and has lived here continuously since. For many years
he followed farming, raising grain and stock and gaining more than a competence. He first bought land in this county
in 1869 and subsequently sold that tract and bought a finely improved farm in Franklin township, which he sold
for one hundred and fifty dollars per acre in 1909. He has dealt in land to a considerable extent, has bought and
sold or traded a number of farms and still owns many acres of good land. In 1910 he removed to Knoxville, where
he is highly esteemed by his fellow citizens.

In 1871 Mr. Gustin was married to Miss Susan Glenn, who was reared from childhood in this county but whose birth
occurred in Jefferson county, this state. Her parents, Thomas and Mary Glenn, came to Iowa from the vicinity of
Albany, Indiana, shortly after their marriage and the father followed farming. Both have passed away. An uncle
of Mrs. Gustin, William Glenn, was for, many years a merchant at Pleasantville. To Mr. and Mrs. Gustin have been
born two children. C. D., representing the Home Insurance Company at Des Moines, married Miss Julia Welcher and
they have three daughters, Gladys, Gertrude and Lois. Myrta married Clyde Flannagan, a farmer of Franklin township,
by whom she has a son, Don.

Mr. Gustin is a stanch democrat and served for years in township offices while a resident of Franklin township.
From January, 1884, to January, 1888, he was county auditor, and he has also served as a member of the board of
supervisors. The family are members of the Free Methodist church of Knoxville and hold the respect of those who
have come in contact with them as their lives are guided by high standards of morality.